The Last Soldier
at Bo River Defensive Line
2nd Lieutenant Phan Van Duong
On 27-01-1973, cease fire in "leopard skin" pattern was officially announced. The Marine Division had established a defensive line from the east shore, across the sand dunes of My Thuy, Long Quang, Cho Can, Vinh Dinh, Quang Tri City to Tich Tuong, Nhu Le and along the southern bank of Thach Han River in the west where the defensive line of the Airborne Division had been. Two years, 1973 and 1974 had quietly passed and the Marines had fit into the role of the Regional Force.
It was at the beginning of 1974, however, that the battle of Thuong Duc broke out. The Airborne Division was moved to Da Nang on the 08-08-1974 and the Marine Division had to spread westwards to replace the Airborne Division.
The Phuoc Long province was then lost on 06-01-1975. The US had provided no response and the NVA had all the favourable factors to launch Campaign 275 to completely invade South Vietnam.
On 10-03-1975, the NVA attacked Ban Me Thuot with 3 Divisions, and this town was lost some days later. A plan to reoccupy the area turned into a tragic retreat on National Route 7B. MRII fell into the enemyùs hand and MRI suffered the same fate in operation Rearrangement of Territory of President Thieu.
On 14-03-1975 the Marine Division received an order to replace the Airborne Division at the Thuong Duc Battle. Brigades 258 and 396 moved to Da Nang. Only Brigade 147 had remained at the Defensive Line of Bo River to protect Hue City. The 3rd Battalion was situated at the Binh Minh Base in the west. The 4th Battalion was located at Hoa My Base and occupied important positions such as Hill 51 and Dong Lam Village. The 5th Battalion was in charge of Village Route 564, at the north bank of Bo River. The NVA had cooperated with local communist guerrillas to perform raids on Co Bi and Hien Si aiming to approach National Route 1.
The 5th Marine Battalion commenced a series of counter attacks and resolutely retained their area of responsibility.
Company 2 of the 5th Battalion was commanded by Captain Tran Van Loan. The executive officer was 1st Lieutenant Le Ba Khanh. The platoon leaders are listed below:
- 2nd Lieutenant Dao Minh Tuan (Platoon 1)
- 2nd Lieutenant Trinh Ngoc Ninh (Platoon 2)
- 2nd Lieutenant Phan Van Duong (Platoon 3)
- 2nd Lieutenant Bui Cong Thanh (Platoon 4)
The Battalion Commander was Major Pham Van Tien. Major Tien and Captain Loan were originally a part of the Crazy Buffalo Battalion, only Major Ngo Thanh Huu had been in the 5th Battalion for an extended period.
The 5th Battalion were on operation "search and destroy" to protect the region and to destroy any NVA blocking cells in the area. The NVA were approaching the hamlets Co Bi and Hien Si at the south of National Route 1 and An Lo and Cao Xa in the north.
At 3.00 am on 12-03-1975 we had received an order to cross the departure line. Platoon 1 of Dao Minh Tuan and my Platoon 3 were the main forces that were employed by the 1st Lieutenant to directly attack Co Bò It was a small hamlet, almost desolate, just to the south of the Bo River.
I directed my squads to advance. This was a low area, full of thorny bamboo, situated at the curve of the river. In the current season, the water levels were low and thus very easy to ford across it. In the darkness of the night, my platoon reached the left edge of the hamlet. Platoon 1 of Tuan had reached the river and hindered the NVA from running to the northern bank. They also blocked the NVA reinforcements.
In morning, we had occupied the target and deployed thinly to await the arrival of Group A of the Company. We were ordered to transfer the defensive line to Company 3. When the 1st Platoon of 2nd Lieutenant Tong of the 3rd Company was entering the hamlet, the NVA were shelling us in a shower of Artillery rounds. Quite a number of Marines were killed and more were injured, among them were Captain Loan and 2nd Lieutenant Tong of the 3rd Company. We were immediately ordered to retreat back to our previous positions to avoid further shells.
In the following days, the situation remained rather calm. The 2nd Company of the 5th Battalion deployed from the Hien Si steel bridge to the foot of a mountain near the Binh Minh Base which had been protected by Battalion 3.
On 22-03-1975, we were resupplied and also informed by 2nd Lieutenant Ha, the Chief of S1, that next month, Hoang Vi Thieu, Dao Manh Tuan and Phan Van Duong would be promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
We celebrated the recent promotions but while we were drinking, the enemy attacked. At first, there were only a few rounds targeted at our positions but then it increased in frequency and intensity. We ran towards our platoon positions and when I had returned to my platoon, the enemy had just begun their attack. It was likely that they were seeking revenge for our attacks the previous week.
I was wounded on the right forearm by a mortar and after being bandaged, I radioed Platoon 2. Ninh, the 2nd Lieutenant replied that his platoon still held their positions solidly. Through the radio, I was also informed of the enemyùs attack on the Company Headquarters and Platoons 1 and 4. The enemy had encircled and split the Company into two separate parts. It was 1st Lieutenant Khanh that told me to attempt retaining the defensive line and the 5th Battalion would send Company 4 of Captain Nguyen Van Hai for support. Their first spearheaded platoon was repelled. Platoon leader, 2nd Lieutenant Lan and his RTO were killed. During the course of the day, Company 4 had pushed hard to make contact with us but was unsuccessful. The next day, the Battalion Headquarters requested the 3rd Battalion to allow one of its Companies, near us, to support them. However, due to the great pressure put upon us by the enemy as well as the many losses that we suffered, the Company could not make contact.
I radioed Nguyen Ngoc Tot who had been my classmate, also the 1st Platoon leader of Company 1 of the 3rd Battalion. He informed me of his situation and it seemed that he also could not pull us out. Finally, the Battalion Headquarters asked the 4th Battalion to send a platoon. This platoon was led by 1st Lieutenant Cao Xuan Huy and was supported by tanks. They entered to area trying to remove the heavy siege but were unsuccessful. Since then, I had no radio contact with my Company but only able to communicate with the Battalion Headquarters. I called Captain Giang Van Nhan, Chief of S3 to request Artillery. I also received orders directly from him. At the time, I thought that all the other Companies were still at the same position and defensive line as they were before. However, the situation became clear sooner rather than later.
I was unaware of the time but I received the familiar radio voice of Captain Nhan:
"306! Listen to me carefully. Do exactly what Mosquito is doing. (306 was my radio code name and Mosquito was the radio code name of the 3rd Battalion)."
To make sure of the call, I switched the radio back to the internal frequency and called Dao Manh Tuan, the leader of Platoon 1.
"108! This is 306"
"308! 108 here, speak!"
(The voice seemed a little distant)
"Where are you now?"
"I am moving towards An Hoa"
An Hoa T-Junction was the gate leading to Hue City. Why was he going in that direction? It was a large distance between where I was and where they were going. I was going to enquire further but 2nd Lieutenant Luu, the executive officer of Company 3 of the 3rd Battalion called in. Luu informed me:
"You lead your boys and meet me in two hours. After two hours, I will not wait any longer and I will follow my battalion."
I summoned 2nd Lieutenant Trinh Ngoc Ninh and two Vice-Platoon Leaders, 1st Sergeant Vo Tan Loc and Phan Thien My for a briefing to discuss the exit. We decided not to use the road along the river bank but to go straight for the mountain. Although the slope was steep and difficult to tread on, it was safer because we could avoid the enemyùs blocking cells.
My platoon moved first. My RTO and I went with the 1st squad and Ninh's platoon followed. Everybody moved quietly and tried to hold on to the person in front. The wounded were to be transported first. We moved under the bright starlight. We could see the illuminating flares but they were so distant. I showed everyone the direction of Battalion 3. If we were to encounter the enemy, everybody had to fire intensely and attempt to force our way through. We did not want to be captured in any circumstances.
Finally, at 2.00 am, we arrived at the location of Company 3 of the 3rd Battalion. Waiting there was 2nd Lieutenant Luu. He shared some dry rice and water with us. We also had the supplies handy with us. While everyone sat down and proceeded to rest, Luu informed us of the plan to withdraw Marine Brigade 147 towards Thuan An. The Brigade Headquarters, 4th and 5th Battalion were also withdrawing to gather at the Tan My ferry. That meant that my Battalion and my Company 2 had already left. Luu told our two platoons to follow Company 3 of the 3rd Battalion. So we were the last marines to leave the defensive line at Bo River.
We followed Company 3, leaving the base, the mountains and advanced to the plains and towards National Route 1 to go south. I recalled some days earlier, Major Pham Van Tien, the Battalion Commander said some words that I will never forget.
"We brought you from the Southern - most part of South Vietnam. We have the responsibility to take you back to that region of South Vietnam."
His words were full of heart and it provided us with hope, but why did I recall it now? Was it a sixth sense or a coincidence? I did not know. In the morning we entered a primary school of the Huong Tra district, close to the route, and ate breakfast. Outside, on the route was the continuous flow of vehicles travelling to Hue City. I did not know what the authorities had in mind but Hue City was abandoned. Deep in my heart, I felt something very sad and great feelings of regret. There was so much blood lost. We had struggled to keep every meter of ground. The Marine Division had fought so hard and for so long for this territory. Innumerable Marines had sacrificed their lives so that this arid region of Central Vietnam could spout a sign of life, but everything was over.
We had received the order to continue to move. The sun was high up when we passed the An Hoa T-Junction. Then we followed the west wall of the old citadel. Crossing the Bach Ho railway bridge, we turned left to enter Hue City. All of the civilians had already rushed out on to the streets, carrying their belongings and holding their children, running amuck. Hue residents have had incidents of mass graves before when the NVA had temporarily occupied it during The Tet offensive in 1968. They were functionaries, soldiers and even simple civilians. They had to leave because the local government was no longer present and the soldiers who had protected them were also abandoning the city. The only thing which remained was the big national flag, which was yellow with three red stripes across it, on the flagpole at Phu Van Lau. We passed the Nguyen Hoang Bridge and the Trang Tien Bridge was on the left. The bridge was also sañened like the spirit of the Hue citizens. Then we passed Hue radio station, Huong Giang Hotel, Dap Da Bridge and walked along Perfume River in the northerly direction. Leaving Vi Da behind, we followed the Inter province Route 551 to the gathering point at Tan My ferry.
The route 551 was only five meters wide, but so many vehicles and people were travelling on it. The NVA had cut National Route 1 at Phu Thuï The 1st Infantry Division was unable to go to the mouth of Tu Hien due to the high waves. Everyone had streamed towards Tan My ferry to find a means to get to Thuan An.
At about 11.00 am on 24-03-1975, the two platoons of Ninh and I met our Company and our Battalion 5, at the ferry. I could not have been happier. I ran towards the Company Headquarters and then to the other platoons to greet everyone. It had only been a few days of separation but to me, it seemed like an eternity. I was glad to see that everyone was safe and no one was missing. Friends informed me of some important news. I did not know where to be happy or sad. The Brigade Headquarters, the 3rd, 4th, 5th Battalions, Long Range Patrol Company, Artillery and Armour Regiment 20 had successfully used canoes, which had been sent here by the Forward Headquarters of Marine Division, to reach Thuan An. Artillery 105mm and 155mm Howitzers, M48, M41 and tanks were left on this side. Only the M113 APC made it across. I also knew that the Special Tank Force Tango, composing of the 7th Battalion, RF Group 913, artillery and tank units had also withdrawn from Huong Dien and were positioned in Base Tran Ba about 1km north of us.
This area was not large, but there was an immense crowd. Out in the sea, the VN Navy ship HQ 801 was approaching the shore, about 50m away. It was not marines but the crowd which had darted toward it. No one had noted the small group of VC guerrillas who were around and opened fire at the ship. All hell broke loose. The waves were very high and strong. The crowd flooded towards the sea. Some NVA mortars exploded around the sea. The beach was no longer safe and the ship began to turn around and sail into open sea. This brought a cry of desperation from so many people. Marines were ordered to stay in place and destroy the group of VC guerrillas.
The Marine Brigade moved to the south to find another safe pick up beach, but it was difficult. We received orders to dig foxholes and defend for the night.
On the morning of 26-03-1975, a small LCU landed to pick up Brigade 147 Headquarters and all wounded Marines. Bodies of Major Nguyen Tri Nam, the executive officer of the 4th Battalion and Captain To Thanh Chieu, a Company Commander of the 4th Battalion who were killed by snipers the previous afternoon, were also transported to the ship. Le Ba Khanh, the 1st Lieutenant asked me whether I wanted to board the ship to get to Danang, because I had been wounded in the forearm but I decided not to because my Company and my platoon was still here.
Suñenly, the NVA had used heat seeking AT3 rockets to fire at the ship. Colonel Nguyen The Luong was wounded in the leg. The ship quickly sailed into the open sea. It was the only ship which could carry that number of wounded Marines. The second ship tried to dock but the crowd which attempted to climb aboard was too large and the ship became overloaded and ran aground. The VC fired at it and the people who died as a result was uncountable.
The previous night the NVA had crossed the mouth of Thuan An and Tan My ferry. Marines had tried to combat and create a bloody path to arrive at the mouth of Tu Hien. However, according to Major Pham Van Tien:
"To so say a bloody path" was in a way the denial of the dissolutions of units. The way to the southern most part of South Vietnam was blocked. The immense sea and the unreachable sky were all around us. We moved in good order but without formation. The wounded were unable to follow closely with their friends going ahead. They sat down together and let hand grenades explode. "It's better to die than to be captured by the VC" That was the truth. In my platoon, there were 1st Sergeant Phan Thien My, the Vice-Platoon Leader and 1st Class Private Nguyen Van An who had participated in such a glorious death. My military life ended in the north of the mouth of Tu Hien in Hue on 26-03-1975.
2nd Lieutenant Phan Van Duong
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